Deep-well, continuous-coiled-tubing apparatus and method of use

ABSTRACT

A system for injecting or withdrawing a fluid into or from a well is provided. The system includes an injector vehicle having a longitudinal axis and operable to position tubing into the well. The system also includes a tubing supply vehicle operable to provide the tubing to the injector vehicle for positioning in the well. In one aspect of the invention, the tubing is mounted on at least one spool, wherein the longitudinal axis of the injector vehicle is transverse to an axis of rotation of the spool and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tubing supply vehicle. In a separate aspect of the invention, a spiral guide is used to transition tubing during spooling and unspooling between a plurality of empty and full spools. In yet a separate aspect of the invention, a spool is vertically adjustable to allow rotation of the spool during spooling and unspooling. A method of use is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/925,770 filed on Aug. 24, 2004 and entitled “DEEP-WELL,CONTINUOUS-COILED-TUBING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE”, which was adivisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,003filed on Jun. 6, 2003 and entitled “DEEP-WELL, CONTINUOUS-COILED-TUBINGAPPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE”, which claimed priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/387,073 filed Jun. 6, 2002entitled “DEEP-WELL, CONTINUOUS-COILED-TUBING OPERATIONS.” The entiredisclosures of these applications are considered to be part of thedisclosure of the present application and are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to long, continuous tubing or pipesupply installation, and more specifically, to oil and gas well drillingand well servicing operations involving deep, continuous tubing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Oil and gas drilling and production operations involve the deployment ofequipment down a borehole having considerable depth. Cost savingtechniques include using steel tubing that is extended down the boreholeor well casing and using the tubing to pump a variety of differentfluids, including drilling mud and pressurized water. Typical equipmentcurrently used to provide the continuous tubing includes a truck andtrailer with a single coiled steel tube (also herein referred to aspipe) on a spool having an 8 to 10 foot inside diameter core that iswrapped with the tubing to provide a 14-foot outside diameter, where thespool is about 8 feet in length. However, this spool size andconfiguration, including current techniques and equipment limitations,prevent providing continuous coil tubing down the borehole or wellcasing at depths beyond approximately 9,500 feet for 2⅜ inch diametertubing, or approximately 6,000 feet for 2⅞ inch diameter tubing, becausethe current equipment and spool configurations are too limiting.

FIG. 1 shows the typical current equipment layout for providing steeltubing down a borehole or well casing. Typically, an injectortruck/trailer 10 is situated over a well W. The injector truck/trailer10 typically includes equipment 12 and has a long edge 14 that istypically situated such that it is substantially parallel to the longedge 16 of a tubing supply truck/trailer 18. For the prior art shown inFIG. 1, the tubing supply truck/trailer 18 is shown to include a cab ortruck 20 and a trailer 22. The injector truck/trailer 10 has alongitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) that is substantially parallel to alongitudinal axis L_(T)-L_(T) of the tubing supply truck/trailer 18. Inaddition, the longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) of the injectortruck/trailer 10 is oriented such that it is typically aligned with thelongitudinal axis L_(T)-L_(T) of the tubing supply truck/trailer 18.

The tubing supply truck/trailer 18 includes a spool 24 of steel tubingT, where the spool 24 has flanges 26 to laterally confine and supportthe wound tubing T. The flanges 26 are typically oriented substantiallyparallel with the long edge 16 of the tubing supply truck/trailer 18. Inaddition, the spool 24 rotates about an axis A-A that is orientedsubstantially perpendicular to the long edge 16 of the tubing supplytruck/trailer 18, as well as perpendicular to both the longitudinal axisL_(I)-L_(I) of the injector truck/trailer 10 and the longitudinal axisL_(T)-L_(T) of the tubing supply truck/trailer 18.

In use, as the tubing T is unwound, it is conveyed off the spool 24 anddown the borehole or well W via the injector truck/trailer 10 and theequipment 12 that is located on the injector truck/trailer 10. However,as noted, this setup is substantially limiting in terms of the length oftubing that can be continuously fed down the borehole or well casing.Furthermore, this setup is also limiting because the tubing supplytruck/trailer 18 has to be oriented substantially parallel to, andaligned with, the injector truck/trailer 10.

In view of the above, there is a long felt but unsolved need forequipment and methods that avoids the above-mentioned deficiencies andlimitations of the prior art and that provides for greater lengths ofcontinuous tubing to deep oil and gas boreholes and well casings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the currently available methods and equipment forproviding extended lengths of tubing down a borehole or well casing areovercome by the devices and methods of the present invention. Moreparticularly, the present invention includes an apparatus andconfiguration for providing significantly longer continuous lengths oftubing down a borehole or casing. For all embodiments presented herein,tubing as defined herein is a continuous, moderately flexible tubingthat is preferably made of steel, and possesses mechanical propertiessuch that it may be coiled and uncoiled by repeatedly being wound andunwound around a large diameter spool, and wherein the tubing is capableof being sufficiently straightened between the winding and unwindingsteps so that it can be inserted into an oil and/or gas well. Inaddition, a vehicle as defined herein is a moveable or transportabledevice, with or without an internal propulsion system (e.g., a truck,tractor, trailer, tracked vehicle, wheeled vehicle, sled, raft, boat,etc., or combinations of these).

In a first preferred embodiment, a single large spool is utilized, aboutwhich the steel tubing is wound. The single large spool is oriented withits axis of rotation at least substantially perpendicular (ortransverse) to the long edge and longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) of theinjector truck/trailer, but at least substantially parallel to the longedge and longitudinal axis L_(T)-L_(T) of the tubing supplytruck/trailer. Thus, in one aspect of the present invention, a systemfor injecting or withdrawing a fluid into or from a well is provided,where the system comprises an injector vehicle having a longitudinalcenter axis, the injector vehicle operable to position moderatelyflexible tubing into the well and introduce the fluid. The systemfurther comprises a tubing supply vehicle having a longitudinal centeraxis and operable to provide the moderately flexible tubing to theinjector vehicle for positioning in the well, wherein the moderatelyflexible tubing is mounted on at least one spool, the at least one spoolhaving an axis of rotation, wherein the longitudinal center axis of theinjector vehicle is transverse to the axis of rotation of the at leastone spool and transverse to the longitudinal center axis of the tubingsupply vehicle.

In a second preferred embodiment, a plurality of spools of tubing areinterconnected and are oriented in a direction such that their sharedand common axis is at least substantially perpendicular (or transverse)to the longitudinal axis of the injector truck/trailer, but parallel tothe long edge and longitudinal axis of the tubing supply truck/trailer.

In a separate aspect of this second preferred embodiment, a spiral guideis used between adjacent spools of tubing, wherein the spiral guideallows for the tubing to wind or unwind smoothly in transition betweenan inner layer of tubing on an empty spool and the outermost layer oftubing on an adjacent full spool, or vice-versa. More particularly, afull spool can have a multiple number of layers of tubing, such as fiveoverlapping layers. Therefore, during the winding process, after a spoolis full, a device for transitioning between the outer-most layer oftubing on the full spool and the empty inner core on the empty spool isneeded. The spiral guide provides a mechanism for accomplishing thistransition. Of course, the spiral guide works in reverse fashion whenunwinding the spool. That is, after a first spool is emptied of itstubing, the tubing unwinds around the spiral guide, and in the process,the tubing transitions from the inner core of the empty spool having arelatively small radius of curvature, to the outer-most layer of tubingon the next adjacent full spool, where the outer-most layer of tubingoccupies a large radius of curvature relative to the radius of curvatureof the inner core of the empty spool. Thus, in one aspect of the presentinvention, a vehicle for supplying moderately flexible tubing isprovided, the vehicle comprising a bed and a spooling assembly locatedon the bed. The spooling assembly comprises at least one spiral guidemember operable to transition spooling and unspooling of the moderatelyflexible tubing from a first spool to an adjacent second spool of thespooling assembly, the at least one spiral guide member being positionedbetween the first and second spools.

In a separate aspect of the first and second preferred embodiments,roller bearings are used under the flanges of the spool or spools. Theroller bearings allow the spools to be rotated and the weight of thecoiled tubing is supported and transmitted through the roller bearingsto the truck/trailer body. Roller bearings are also preferably usedunder the ends of the axle that is used to rotate the spool or spools.

In yet a separate aspect of the present invention, an alternateconfiguration is used whereby a single large spool is oriented with itsaxis of rotation at least substantially perpendicular (or transverse) tothe longitudinal axis of the injector truck/trailer, and also at leastsubstantially perpendicular (or transverse) to the longitudinal axis ofthe tubing supply truck/trailer. This separate embodiment utilizes avertically adjustable or displaceable axis of rotation wherein the spoolis lifted during winding and unwinding operations. In a separate aspectof this embodiment, the large spool is transported on a low-boy trailer,thereby providing sufficient clearance for the large single spool to betransported on public roads and highways. Thus, in one aspect of thepresent invention, a vehicle for supplying moderately flexible tubing isprovided, the vehicle comprising a bed and a spooling assembly locatedon the bed, wherein the spooling assembly is configured to be raised andlowered relative to the bed.

In addition to the above described aspects of the invention, methods ofintroducing moderately flexible tubing into an oil and/or gas well arealso provided. Thus, in one aspect of the present invention, a methodfor supplying moderately flexible tubing to a well is provided. Themethod comprises a first step of providing (a) an injector vehicleoperable to position moderately flexible tubing into the well, theinjector vehicle having a longitudinal center axis, and (b) a tubingsupply vehicle having a longitudinal center axis and operable to providethe moderately flexible tubing to the injector vehicle for positioningin the well, wherein the moderately flexible tubing is mounted on atleast one spool, the at least one spool having an axis of rotation,wherein the longitudinal center axis of the injector vehicle istransverse to the axis of rotation of the at least one spool andtransverse to the longitudinal center axis of the tubing supply vehicle.The method further comprises the steps of unspooling the moderatelyflexible tubing from the at least one spool, feeding the unspooledmoderately flexible tubing to the injector vehicle, and introducing theunspooled moderately flexible tubing into the well.

Further and more specific advantages and features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an equipment configuration of the priorart;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an equipment configuration of a firstembodiment;

FIG. 3 a is a plan view showing an equipment configuration of a separateembodiment;

FIG. 3 b is a side elevation view of the tubing supply truck/trailershown in FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view showing a portion of the equipment shownin FIG. 3 b;

FIG. 5 is an perspective view of a portion of the component depicted inFIG. 4, including a portion of a full spool, a spiral guide, and portionof an empty spool;

FIG. 6 is a end-on elevation view of a spiral guide portion of theembodiment shown in FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the spiral guide shown in FIG. 6, withschematic illustration of the adjacent full and empty spools; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are elevation views of yet a separate embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of a deep-well,continuous-coiled-tubing apparatus, or an extended spooling apparatus28, is shown mounted on a tubing supply truck/trailer 18. The extendedspooling apparatus 28 includes a single spool 24 that extends lengthwisealong the trailer 22 of the tubing supply truck/trailer 18. The extendedspooling apparatus 28 includes an inner core 30 around which the steeltubing T is wound. The inner core 30 has an axis A-A that is alignedsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L_(T)-L_(T)of the tubingsupply truck/trailer 18. In addition, the inner core 30 and its axis A-Aare aligned substantially parallel to the long edge 16 of the tubingsupply truck/trailer 18. However, in contrast to the prior art depictedin FIG. 1, the inner core 30 and its axis A-A are aligned substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) of the injectortruck/trailer 10. In addition, for the extended spooling apparatus 28,the longitudinal axis L_(T)-L_(T) of the tubing supply truck/trailer 18is also substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I)of the injector truck/trailer 10.

In a separate aspect of extended spooling apparatus 28, inner core 30may extend longitudinally beyond flanges 26 and act as a drive shaft torotate spool 24. More particularly, inner core 30 or an axle 31operatively connected to inner core 30 may extend longitudinally beyondat least one of the two flanges 26 of extended spooling apparatus 28 andbe powered by a rotating drive mechanism (not shown), thereby serving torotate spool 24 for the winding procedure of placing tubing T on thespool 24, and the unwinding procedure of taking it off the spool 24.

In use, the tubing supply truck/trailer 18 is driven to the location ofthe oil and/or gas well W and its longitudinal axis L_(T)-L_(T) issituated substantially perpendicular (or transverse) to the longitudinalaxis L_(I)-L_(I) of the injector truck/trailer 10. The tubing T on thetubing supply truck/trailer 18 is then partially unwound and insertedinto the well W. To advance the tubing T down the well W, the spool 24is rotated in a first direction to unwind the tubing T off of the innercore 30. As the tubing T is progressively unwound, an additionaloptional step includes moving the spool 24 forwards and/or backwardsalong directional arrow 32 to facilitate allowing the tubing T to unwindoff of spool 24 at an orientation that is substantially similar to thelongitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) of the injector truck/trailer 10. Moreparticularly, as shown in FIG. 2, as the tubing T approaches the well Wat an angle θ, where angle θ is measured positive from either side ofthe longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) of the injector truck/trailer 10, thenby moving the spool 24 laterally relative to the longitudinal axisL_(I)-L_(I) of the injector truck/trailer 10 the tubing T is unwound ina smooth fashion, thereby mitigating the risk of stressing or bendingthe tubing T at the well W or at the spool 24. Moving the spool 24 canbe achieved in several ways, including by moving the tubing supplytruck/trailer 18 forwards and/or backwards along arrow 32, and/or bymoving only the trailer 22 forwards and/or backwards along directionalarrow 32, such as by a hydraulic mechanism, and/or by moving the spool24 on trailer 22 forwards and/or backwards along directional arrow 32,such as by a hydraulic mechanism. Alternatively, a mechanical guide (notshown) may be situated between the spool 24 and the well W, wherein theguide is used to assist in properly orienting the tubing T from thespool 24 to the well W.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, a separate preferred embodiment ofan extended spooling apparatus 34 is shown. Extended spooling apparatus34 includes a plurality of spools 24 mounted on the tubing supplytruck/trailer 18. The example shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b of extendedspooling apparatus 34 features three spools 24 a-c. Between spools 24 aand 24 b, and between spools 24 b and 24 c are spiral guides 36 a and 36b, respectively. Spiral guides 36 a and 36 b are used to transitionbetween a full spool and an empty spool when tubing T is being woundonto the extended spooling apparatus 34, or to transition between anempty spool and a full spool when tubing T is being unwound from theextended spooling apparatus 34.

As with extended spooling apparatus 28, extended spooling apparatus 34includes inner cores 30 a-c for spools 24 a-c, respectively, aroundwhich the steel tubing T is wound. The spools 24 a-c have a common (orco-located) rotational axis A-A that is aligned substantially parallelwith the longitudinal axis L_(T)-L_(T) of the tubing supplytruck/trailer 18. In addition, spools 24 a-c and their common axis A-Aare aligned substantially parallel to the long edge 16 of the tubingsupply truck/trailer 18. However, in contrast to the prior art depictedin FIG. 1, the spools 24 a-c and their common axis A-A are alignedsubstantially perpendicular (or transverse) to the longitudinal axisL_(I)-L_(I) of the injector truck/trailer 10. In addition, for theextended spooling apparatus 34, the longitudinal axis L_(T)-L_(T) of thetubing supply truck/trailer 18 is also substantially perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I)of the injector truck/trailer 10.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a partial cross-sectional view of the extendedspooling apparatus 34 is shown. FIG. 4 illustrates spool 24 b in thecenter of the drawing with full spool 24 a to the left of spool full 24b, and with substantially empty spool 24 c to the right of full spool 24b. The number of layers of tubing T wound around a spool 24 can varydepending upon the size of the tubing. For steel tubing having adiameter of 2⅞ inches, preferably about three or five layers of tubingwill be wound around each spool. For illustration purposes, and as anexample without limitation, FIG. 4 is shown with spools 24 a and 24 bhaving five layers of tubing, and spool 24 c has only the very beginningof a first layer of tubing T.

For the example shown in FIGS. 3 a, 3 b and 4, a typical spool 24 a-cwill have a longitudinal length W_(S), where W_(S) is preferably betweenabout 4 to 12 feet long, and more preferably between about 6 to 10 feetlong, and more preferably yet, about 8 feet long. Spiral guides 36 a and36 b have a longitudinal length W_(SG), where W_(SG) is preferablybetween about 0.5 to 2.0 feet long, and more preferably between about0.6 to 1.5 feet long, and more preferably yet, between about 0.7 to 1.0feet long.

Still referring to FIG. 4, by way of example and not limitation, for thewinding of tubing T onto extended spooling apparatus 34, first spool 24a is wound with five layers of tubing T before any tubing is applied tospools 24 b and 24 c. After spool 24 a is filled with five layers oftubing T, spiral guide 36 a transitions between full spool 24 a to emptyspool 24 b by providing a spiral path that leads from full spool 24 a toempty spool 24 b, as will be discussed below. Upon winding tubing Taround spiral guide 36 a, tubing T is set at a position to begin layer 1on empty spool 24 b at the left side of spool 24 b as shown in FIG. 4.Spool 24 b is then filled with tubing T by progressively adding layer 1from left to right, per FIG. 4, across spool 24 b. Layer 2 of spool 24 bis applied by wrapping tubing T around spool 24 b from right to left,per FIG. 4, after layer 1 is filled. FIG. 4 includes directional arrows35.1-5 along each layer 1-5, respectively, that show the direction offilling for each layer 1-5. Layers 3 through 5 are filled in a similarfashion as for layers 1 and 2. For the example shown in FIG. 4, layer 5of tubing is completed at the right end of spool 24 b. Tubing T thentransitions to empty spool 24 c by transitioning along the spiral pathprovided by spiral guide 36 b until tubing T is set at a position tobegin layer 1 on empty spool 24 c at the left side of spool 24 c, perFIG. 4. Thus, each spiral guide 36 a and 36 b provides a transitioningmechanism for altering the position of the tubing from a full spool toan empty spool, or vice-versa.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a perspective view of a portion of the extendedspooling apparatus 34 is illustrated, including full spool 24 b, spiralguide 36 b and substantially empty spool 24 c. Tubing T at layer 5transitions from spool 24 b onto spiral guide 36 b where its windingdiameter is modified and reduced along the path of spiral guide 36 bsuch that tubing T transitions to layer 1 and forms the first layer oninner core 30 c of spool 24 c.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the spiral guide 36 b is shown in across-sectional view and a perspective view, respectively. FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate that the tubing T transitions from a position for layer 5 toa position for layer 1. Although shown to occupy about one revolutionaround spiral guide 36 a, 36 b, the transition from layer 5 to layer 1may occupy a fraction of a revolution, or it may occupy more than aboutone revolution. Despite the number of revolutions used, spiral guides 36a and 36 b provide a substantially spiral shaped path for transitioningthe radius of curvature of tubing T around axis A-A between spools 24a-c.

Still referring to FIG. 6, the interior circular line in phantomcorresponds to the inside of spools 24 a-c, or inner cores 30 a-c, withinside diameters d_(i), where d_(i)can vary depending on the dimensionsof the tubing being applied to the spools 24 a-c. For steel tubinghaving a diameter of about 2⅞ inches, the inner cores 30 a-c with aninside diameters d_(i) are anticipated to be about 8 to 10 feet indiameter. The outer circular line in phantom corresponds to the outsidediameter of flanges 26 that form the exterior ends of spools 24 a and 24c. In addition, the outer circular line in phantom generally correspondsto the outside diameter of spiral guides 36 a and 36 b, wherein thespiral guides 36 a and 36 b themselves serve as flanges to spool 24 band the interior ends of spools 24 a and 24 c.

In use, the tubing supply truck/trailer 18 is driven to the location ofthe oil and/or gas well W and situated substantially perpendicular tothe injector truck/trailer 10. Preferably, the lateral center 37 c ofspool 24 c is initially aligned with the longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I)of the injector truck/trailer 10 or the location of well W. The tubing Ton the tubing supply truck/trailer 18 is then partially unwound off offull spool 24 c and inserted into the well W. To advance the tubing Tdown the well W, the spools 24 a-c and spiral guides 36 a and 36 b arerotated together as one unit in a first direction to unwind the tubing Toff of inner core 30 c. After the tubing T is progressively unwound offof third spool 24 c, tubing T transitions from layer 1 on empty spool 24c to layer 5 on full second spool 24 b by transitioning its radius ofcurvature along spiral guide 36 b. That is, tubing T transitions fromlayer 1 on spool 24 c to layer 5 on spool 24 b. Of course, if spool 24 bheld three layers of tubing, then tubing T would transition from layer 1on spool 24 c to layer 3 on spool 24 b. Tubing T is then progressivelyunwound off of second spool 24 b. After the tubing T is progressivelyunwound off of second spool 24 b, tubing T transitions from layer 1 onempty spool 24 b to layer 5 on full first spool 24 a by transitioningits radius of curvature along spiral guide 36 a. First spool 24 a isthen progressively unwound until tubing T is emptied off of spool 24 a,or until the desired depth of insertion is reached.

Additional optional steps include moving the spools 24 a-c forwardsalong directional arrow 32 to facilitate allowing the tubing T to unwindoff of spool 24 b and 24 a at an orientation that is substantiallysimilar to the longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) of the injectortruck/trailer 10. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 3, as the tubing Tapproaches the well W at an angle θ, where angle θ is measured positivefrom either side of the longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) of the injectortruck/trailer 10, then by moving the spools 24 b and 24 a laterallyforward relative to the longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) of the injectortruck/trailer 10, the tubing T is unwound at a low angle θ in a smoothfashion, thereby mitigating the risk of stressing or bending the tubingT at the well W or at the spools 24 b and 24 a. Moving the spools 24 band 24 a can be achieved in several ways, including by moving the tubingsupply truck/trailer 18 forwards along arrow 32, and/or by moving onlythe trailer 22 forwards along directional arrow 32, such as by ahydraulic mechanism, and/or by moving the spools 24 a-c on trailer 22forwards and/or backwards along directional arrow 32, such as by ahydraulic mechanism. Alternatively, a mechanical guide (not shown) maybe situated between the tubing supply truck/trailer 18 and the well W,wherein the guide is used to assist in properly orienting the tubing Tfrom the spools 24 b and 24 a to the well W.

Extended spooling apparatus 34 is distinguished over extended spoolingapparatus 28 in terms of the frequency in which adjusting the positionof the tubing supply truck/trailer 18 relative the injectortruck/trailer is performed. More particularly, if the tubing supplytruck/trailer 18 is sufficiently distant from the injector truck/trailer10, for either extended spooling apparatus 28 or extended spoolingapparatus 34, adjusting the position of the tubing supply truck/trailer18 relative to the injector truck/trailer 10 may not be necessarybecause the angle θ is too small to cause potential damaging stress totubing T. However, if the tubing supply truck/trailer 18 is close enoughto the injector truck/trailer 10 to require adjusting the position ofthe tubing supply truck/trailer to prevent damaging tubing T duringunwinding or winding, then extended spooling apparatus 34 can beadjusted twice by moving the tubing supply truck/trailer 18 forward afirst time after unwinding tubing T from spool 24 c and initiatingunwinding at spool 24 b, and then by moving the tubing supplytruck/trailer forward a second time after initiating unwinding at spool24 a. For these two adjustments, preferably the lateral centers 37 b and37 a of spools 24 b and 24 a, respectively, are adjusted tosubstantially match the longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) of injectortruck/trailer 10. In contrast to this method, extended spoolingapparatus 28 would require adjusting the location of the tubing supplytruck/trailer 18 relative to the longitudinal axis L_(I)-L_(I) of theinjector truck/trailer 10 by substantially continuous movement of thesingle spool 24 forwards and backwards throughout either the unwindingor winding procedure.

Referring again to FIG. 3 a, in a separate aspect of extended spoolingapparatus 34, inner core 30 a and/or 30 c may extend longitudinallybeyond end flanges 26 and act as a drive shaft to rotate spools 24 a-c.More particularly, inner core 30 a and/or 30 c or an axle typestructure, such as axle 38 operatively connected to spools 24 a-c mayextend longitudinally beyond at least one of the two end flanges 26 ofextended spooling apparatus 34 and be powered by a rotating drivemechanism (not shown), thereby serving to spin spools 24 a-c for thewinding and unwinding procedure of placing tubing T on the spools 24 a-cor taking it off the spool 24 a-c.

Referring again to FIG. 3 b, in a yet separate aspect of the presentinvention, roller bearings 39 known to those familiar with the art, arepreferably included under the flanges 26 of spool(s) 24 so that thespool(s) 24 can be rotated and the weight of the coiled tubing can besupported and transmitted through the roller bearings to thetruck/trailer body. In addition, roller bearings 39 are also preferablyincluded in conjunction with the drive shaft 38 that is used to rotatethe spool or spools.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in yet a separate embodiment the equipmentconfiguration of the prior art is applied, but with a modified extendedspooling apparatus 40, as shown in elevation view of FIG. 8. Extendedspooling apparatus 40 includes a single large spool 42 having an axisA-A that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axisL_(I)-L_(I) of the injector truck/trailer 10, and is also substantiallyperpendicular to the long edge 16 of tubing supply truck/trailer 18 andthe longitudinal axis L_(T)-L_(T) of the tubing supply truck/trailer 18.Extended spooling apparatus 40 utilizes a vertically adjustable spool 42that can be raised and lowered to perform the winding and unwindingoperations, as in FIG. 9. Preferably, spool 42 and trailer 22 areinterconnected using a pair of elongated supports 44 on each side of thetrailer 22. The elongated supports 44 are preferably connected to therotational axis 46 of spool 42, and allow the spool 42 to be freelyrotated when the spool 42 is in its raised position, as in FIG. 9. Whenin the lowered position, a first angle φ₁ exists between the elongatedsupports 44. When in the raised position, a second angle φ₂ existsbetween the elongated supports 44, where angle φ₂ is less than angle φ₁.Preferably, the elongated supports 44 are moveable, and more preferably,the elongated supports 44 are slideable relative to each other, therebyallowing them to be adjusted from a first position corresponding to thelowered spool position, as shown in FIG. 8, to a second positioncorresponding to the raised spool position, as shown in FIG. 9.

The spool 42 of extended spooling apparatus 40 preferably features twosemi-circular end portions having about a 5-foot radius separated by ahorizontal distance of about 20 to 30 feet. FIG. 8 illustrates anexample of the present embodiment where the inside of the spool 42 has aheight of about 10 feet, with two semi-circular end portions havingabout a 5-foot radius separated by a horizontal distance of about 20feet. After winding with tubing T, the physical dimensions of the coiledtubing load on the trailer 22 will be about 8 feet wide, 33 feet inlongitudinal length, and about 12 to 13 feet high. In use, thelongitudinal axis L_(T)-L_(T) of the tubing supply truck/trailer 18 ispositioned to substantially correspond to the longitudinal axisL_(I)-L_(I) of the injector truck/trailer 10. The spool 42 is thenelevated about 12 to 14 feet, as shown in FIG. 9, and then rotated aboutits axis for unspooling and respooling the tubing about the spool 42.

It is a separate aspect of the invention, extended spooling apparatuses28, 34, and 40 are used in conjunction with a low-boy trailer to reducetheir overall height during transport. Embodiments of the presentinvention are anticipated to typically be used with 2⅞ inch diametersteel tubing. However, the present invention may also be used with 19/10, 1⅔, 2 1/16, 2⅜, and 2⅝ inch diameter steel tubing. As noted above,the drive shaft for the spools and the flanges of the spools arestructurally connected. If the same drive shaft diameter and coiledtubing flange outside diameter are maintained, then longer lengths withmore coiled tubing layers can be accommodated for tubing withprogressively smaller diameters.

The invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments;however, other changes and modifications to the invention may be madewhich are still contemplated within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A vehicle for supplying flexible coiled tubing,comprising: a bed; a spooling assembly located on the bed, wherein thespooling assembly comprises at least one spiral guide member having aspiral-shaped path for receiving the flexible coiled tubing, the atleast one spiral guide member operable to transition spooling andunspooling of the flexible coiled tubing from a first spool to anadjacent second spool of the spooling assembly, the at least one spiralguide member being positioned between the first and second spools,wherein the spooling assembly includes a rotational axis, wherein thefirst spool, the second spool and the at least one spiral guide memberare situated on a common axle aligned along said rotational axis, andwherein the axle, the first spool, the second spool and the at least onespiral guide member are rotated as one unit to either wind or unwind theflexible coiled tubing from the spooling assembly.
 9. The vehicle ofclaim 8, further comprising a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axissubstantially parallel with the rotational axis.
 10. The vehicle ofclaim 9, wherein said longitudinal axis of the vehicle is substantiallyperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of an adjacent injector vehicle.11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first spool and the second spoolinclude flanges.
 12. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising rollerbearings under said flanges.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The vehicle of claim 8,wherein the vehicle comprises a propulsion system. 15-24. (canceled) 25.The vehicle of claim 8, wherein each of said first spool and said secondspool comprise a longitudinal length of between about 6 to 10 feet. 26.The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said at least one spiral guide comprisesa longitudinal length of between about 0.5 to 2.0 feet.
 27. The vehicleof claim 8, wherein said axle further comprises a roller bearing. 28.The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said spiral guide member transitions theflexible coiled tubing along the substantially spiral-shaped path froman inner-most layer of tubing on said first spool to an outer-most layerof tubing on said second spool.
 29. A vehicle for supplying a continuouslength of flexible coiled tubing, comprising: a bed having alongitudinal axis; at least two spools having a rotational axis that issubstantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said bed; and atleast one spiral guide member operable to transition spooling andunspooling of the flexible coiled tubing along a spiral path from afirst layer of tubing on a first spool of said two spools to a non-firstlayer of tubing on a second spool of said at least two spools.
 30. Thevehicle of claim 29, further comprising an axle operatively associatedwith both said first and second spools, said axle substantially parallelwith said longitudinal axis of said bed.
 31. The vehicle of claim 29,wherein the flexible coiled tubing comprises steel, and wherein each ofsaid first spool and said second spool comprise a longitudinal length ofbetween about 6 to 10 feet.
 32. The vehicle of claim 29, wherein theflexible coiled tubing comprises steel, and wherein said at least onespiral guide comprises a longitudinal length of between about 0.5 to 2.0feet.